Pioneer enters the 18x DVD recording market with a new Super-multi DVD burner. The Pioneer DVR-112 DVD/CD writer will burn at a maximum speed of 18x with DVD-R/+R single layer media, up to 12x on DVD-RAM Ver2.2 [RAM2(Class1)] media, and is the first DVD burner that writes up to 10x on DVD-R/+R (DL). The drive is available in beige and black (DVR-112BK) in Europe as an OEM, while it is also available in Japan (retail version).

Pioneer has also released another version of the drive, without writing support for DVD-RAM, the DVR-112D (DVR-1810 in the U.S.).

Pioneer engineers claim that the DVR-112's combined specifications deliver one of the highest levels of all-round DVD-writing performance and quality currently available.

Let's take a look at the drive's specifications, which appear to be quite impressive.

Key features	DVR-112
	Writes and reads DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, +R/RW and CD-R/RW formats
	Buffer under-run protection for CD/DVD Performance Adjusting Firmware - automatically optimises the disc’s rotation speed depending on the user’s application – for example, if watching a movie or listening to music, the disc velocity is reduced in order to keep background noise to a minimum. Multi-effect Liquid Crystal Tilt Compensator - further improves recording and playback characteristics by compensating for discs that are warped or of uneven thickness (operates at high speeds and with Dual/Double layer discs). Ultra-DRA (Dynamic Resonance Absorber) - suppresses vibration caused by imbalanced discs. Disc-Resonance Stabiliser - controls the airflow generated by the disc-rotation to minimise disc-warping effect that can occur when a disc rotates at high speed.
	Max. 18x writing speed for DVD-R/+R* Max. 10x writing speed for DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) and +R DL (Double Layer) Discs Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-RW Max. 8x writing speed for +RW Max. 12x writing speed for DVD-RAM** * It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable) **DVD-RAM Ver2.2 [RAM2(Class1)] media
	DVD data capacity: 4.7GB Single-Layer disc. 8.54GB Dual/Double Layer disc. DVD-RAM 4.7GB disc (Ver 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, (Class0) and Ver 2.2 [RAM2(Class1)], non-cartridge versions). CD-R (Type 74, 650MB & Type 80, 700MB). CD-RW (Type 74, 650MB & Type 80, 700MB, including HS, US, US+).
	Software bundle not included (European OEM version)
Specifications	DVR-112
Write Support	DVD-R (4.7GB, Ver 2.0 & 2.1 for General) DVD-R DL (8.54GB, Dual Layer, Ver 3.0) DVD-RW (4.7GB, Ver 1.0, 1.1 & 1.2) +R (4.7GB, Ver 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3) +R DL (8.54GB Double Layer, Ver 1.0 & 1.1) +RW (4.7GB, Ver 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3) +RW High Speed (4.7GB, Ver 1.0) DVD-RAM (4.7GB, Ver 2.0, 2.1 & 2.2 (Class0) and [RAM2(Class1)], non-cartridge versions) CD-R (Type 74, 650MB & Type 80, 700MB) CD-RW (including HS, US, US+)
Read Support	DVD-ROM (Single & Dual Layer, Single & Dual Sided) DVD-RAM (Ver 2.0, 2.1 & 2.2 (Class0) and [RAM2(Class1)], non-cartridge version) DVD-R, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-RW +R, +R DL (Double Layer), +RW CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2 (Form 1, Form 2) CD-Text, Photo-CD (Single & Multiple Session), CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-Text, Video CD, CD-R, CD-RW (including HS, US, US+)
Write Speed DVD-R	18x CAV (24.93 MB/sec)* 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)* 12x PCAV / Zone CLV (16.62 MB/sec) 8x PCAV / Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec) 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec) 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec) *It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable)
Write Speed DVD-R Dual Layer	10x Zone CLV (13.85 MB/sec* ) 8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec*) 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec) *This specification describes the maximum speed in one zone
Write Speed DVD-RW	6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec) 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)
Write Speed 8cm DVD-R/RW with Adapter	2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec) 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)
Write Speed +R	18x CAV (24.93 MB/sec)* 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)* 12x PCAV / Zone CLV (16.62 MB/sec) 8x PCAV / Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec) MB/sec) 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec) *It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable)
Write Speed +R Double Layer	10x Zone CLV (13.85 MB/sec* 8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec* 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec) This specification describes the maximum speed in one zone
Write Speed +RW	8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec) 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) 3.3x CLV (4.57 MB/sec) 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)
Write Speed DVD-RAM	12x PCAV (16.62 MB/sec) 8x PCAV (11.08 MB/sec) 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec) 5x CLV (6.92 MB/sec) 3x CLV (4.15 MB/sec) 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
Write Speed CD-R	40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec) 32x PCAV / Zone CLV (4.80 MB/sec) 24x PCAV / Zone CLV (3.60 MB/sec) 16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec) 10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec) 4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)
Write Speed CD-RW	32x Zone CLV (4.80 MB/sec) (US+) 24x Zone CLV (3.60 MB/sec) (US and US+) 20x Zone CLV (3.00 MB/sec) (US) 16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec) (US and US+) 10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec) (HS and US) 4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec) (Normal and HS)
Write Speed 8cm CD-R/RW with Adapter	4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)
Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single Layer)	Max. 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)
Read Speed DVD-ROM (Dual Layer)	Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec)
Read Speed DVD-Video (with CSS, Single / Dual Layer)	Max. 5x CAV (6.925 MB/sec)
Read Speed DVD-RAM	12x PCAV (16.62 MB/sec)
Read Speed DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW	Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)
Read Speed +R, +R Double Layer, +RW	Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)
Read Speed 8cm DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD-Video with Adapter	Max. 3.4x CAV (4.70 MB/sec)
Read Speed CD-ROM	Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)
Read Speed CD-R, CD-RW	Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec), Max. 32x CAV (4.80 MB/sec)
Read Speed 8cm CD-ROM CD-R/RW CD-DA with Adapter	Max. 6.1x CAV (0.91 MB/sec)
Read Speed CD-DA CD-TEXT Mixed CD CD-Extra (Play audio)	Max. 9.3x CAV (1.39 MB/sec)
Read Speed CD-DA CD-TEXT Mixed CD CD-Extra (Data extraction)	Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)
Read Speed Video-CD	Max. 9.3x CAV (1.39 MB/sec)
Access Time DVD-ROM	130 msec (Random Average)
Access Time DVD-RAM	210 msec (Random Average)
Access Time CD	120 msec (Random Average)
Interface	ATA/ATAPI-7, SFF-8090
IDE Data Transfer Mode	PIO Mode 4, Multi Word DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA Mode 4 (Ultra-DMA66)* It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable)
Data Buffer	2 MB
Mounting Orientation	Horizontal and Vertical (+/- 5 degrees) *80mm discs cannot be used when the drive is vertically mounted. The case remains even when an adapter is used.
Power Requirement	+5V 1.4A +12V 0.85A (Average during 18x CAV DVD-R writing process)
Power Consumption	17.2W (Average during 18x DVD-R CAV writing process)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	(Including height of Front Bezel) 148 x 42.3 x 180  mm
Net Weight	0.9 kg

The drive

The beige version of the DVR-112 is illustrated in the pictures below.

Our test sample was manufactured in China in December 2006.

This drive is built on the NEC MC-19041Chipset.

Installation

The Pioneer drive was connected as a typical IDE drive and was recognized as "PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-112 ". For the tests we installed the latest v1.09 firmware, available from Pioneer Europe here .